Support to energy market integration and sustainable energy in the NIS (SEMISE)

This project, which is part of the INOGATE Programme has as overall objective to contribute to achieving the goals defined at the Energy Ministers' conference held on 30 November 2006 in Astana, as well as any future objectives, which might be set out in this framework, particularly as regards to energy market convergence, investment facilitation and the promotion of sustainable energy. The Ministerial Declaration issued in Astana and its attached Energy Road Map spelled out in detail the areas in which cooperation should be strengthened, specifically in,
1. Convergence of energy markets on the basis of the EU internal energy market principles, taking into account the particularities of the countries involved
2. Enhancing energy security by addressing the issues of energy exports/imports, supply diversification, energy transit and energy demand
3. Supporting sustainable energy development including the development of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and demand side management
4. Attracting investment towards energy projects of common and regional interest
The specific objectives of this project are
1. Energy markets convergence - Identifying the gaps and obstacles impeding progress towards regional energy market convergence as well as ways of improving and accelerating the convergence process at regional and sub-regional levels
2. Investment facilitation - Supporting energy investments, notably by contributing to creating a more conducive business environment for investments, helping in the development of regional energy infrastructure interconnections, establishing collaborative links with energy companies, lending institutions and representatives of the business sector, in conjunction with the ITS, identifying project opportunities and making project preparation services available to financing institutions such as the EIB and the EBRD, while paying the highest attention to sustainable development considerations
3. Sustainable energy - Promoting the development of sustainable energy policies and assisting the Partner Countries in their implementation, with a particular focus on the promotion of demand-side management, energy efficiency in all pertinent sectors, renewable energies, and the mitigation of the negative impact of energy-related activities on the environment.